The Jumbee (41 page)

“Okay, Esti.” Aurora sighed. “Okay. But we’re going to Ashland as soon as the airport opens.”

“Why?”

Her mom stared at her.

“Why do we have to leave?” Alan had released her from her promise, and she wouldn’t run away now. “I told Frederick I would play Juliet tomorrow. As much as I love the land of eternal Shakespeare, you know what will happen in Ashland. I’ll fall back into Dad’s shadow, where no one can see
me
.”

“People have always seen you, sweetie,” Aurora said, but her eyes slowly softened. “Was it really that bad?”

Esti nodded.

“You should stay,” Rafe said, wrapping his arms around Esti’s waist from behind. “My dad says Esti needs to graduate from here. It’s important for Manchicay School.”

Aurora’s eyes flashed in anger. “I will do what’s safest for Esti, not what’s best for your dad.”

“Why isn’t it safe?” Esti leaned her head against Rafe’s soggy T-shirt. “Alan isn’t a problem anymore.”

Aurora hesitated, then looked at Rafe, her face hard and unforgiving. “Rafe Solomon.”

His arms tightened in surprise. “Yeah?”

“After everything you’ve done for Esti,” Aurora said steadily, “I don’t doubt that you’ll risk your life for her. But I’m not staying here unless you swear you’re not lying. Is Alan dead? Tell me the truth.”

Esti squeezed her eyes shut.

“He was in a boat, Aurora,” Rafe said. “Esti and I were swimming when we saw the boat crash against the cliffs and break apart, then a little while later I saw his body. Esti, did you see it?”

Without opening her eyes, she slowly nodded.

“Nobody could survive a boat crash like that.” Rafe gently kissed the top of Esti’s head. “And I swear I’m not lying. My life is going to get a lot more boring now. Maybe I’ll learn some Shakespeare, so Esti doesn’t get tired of me.”

Esti pressed her fists into her aching eyes, overwhelmed by Rafe’s trust in her—and in Alan. Turning to him, she pulled his head down to hers.

“You’ve proven your honor,” she finally whispered. “I’ll make sure your life isn’t boring.” As she cupped his face with her hands, kissing him again and again, she felt him smile against her lips.

“Esti,” Aurora finally said, relief evident in her tired voice. “Back off. Didn’t your mother ever teach you any manners?”

Epilogue

The old stone building buzzed with anticipation. A corner of the roof had peeled away, as if mangled by a giant can opener, and water still soaked all the chairs in the back rows. Generators growled outside, providing the theater with mostly steady lighting and a faint reek of burning fuel. Several of Frederick’s friends had joined the cleanup, good-naturedly moving enough debris from the parking lot to accommodate at least half the usual amount of cars.

From the humid dressing room, Esti occasionally heard Rafe’s voice, laughing and chatting in the front row as the theater filled. She sat at her table, staring into the mirror as she pulled back her hair. Although the entire cast was packed into the small room, they were subdued as they each put the final touches on their makeup. Esti couldn’t miss the surreptitious looks thrown at her from the moment she walked in.

“You sure you’re okay?” Carmen said for the third time in as many minutes. “Do you want another triple chocolate coconut cookie?”

“I’m good.”

“I know you’re
good
,” Carmen said, rolling her eyes, “but no stage fright this time?” She pinned Juliet’s cap on Esti’s hair, smoothing a few stray brown wisps under the hairpin.

“A little.” Esti reached up to squeeze Carmen’s hand. “Have I ever told you what a great friend you are?”

Dropping into the chair beside her, Carmen grinned. “Dang, Jane—no. Esti Legard. It’s about time.” And then she began to sniffle.

“Esti,” Danielle said unexpectedly from the door. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

As Esti looked over in surprise, she became aware of the deathly silence in the room, broken only by Carmen’s muffled breaths. Everyone had frozen, staring at Esti. They all looked frightened.

“We were all so worried.” Danielle was the first to break the silence, her voice clear even over the buzz from the other room. She sank down in a chair beside Greg. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how you . . .” She trailed off, her determined blue eyes telling Esti all the things she couldn’t put into words. “Did the jumbee really take you to Manchineel Cay?”

Esti glanced around the room, and slowly nodded. “Yes, he took me to Manchineel Cay.”

She could swear that all the breathing in the room had stopped. Lucia pulled back the curtain of the girls’ changing area, sticking her head out to listen.

“But you know what?” Esti added firmly. “He never hurt me, not once. And he let me go.”

“Because of Rafe,” Carmen said, wiping her eyes. “Rafe Solomon actually swam through a hurricane to rescue you.”

“Yes.” Warmth spread through Esti’s body at the thought. “Rafe is amazing.”

“You’ve changed Cariba’s bad boy into a respectable boyfriend.” Somehow Carmen turned her hiccups into an exaggerated gesture of awe. “You
do
have supernatural powers.”

Esti heard Lucia’s faint chuckle as the changing area curtain dropped back into place. The sound seemed to break the spell, and suddenly everyone wanted details about the hideous monster and the haunted cay.

“Stop!” Esti jumped to her feet. The overwhelming chatter stopped as instantly as it had begun. “I’m Juliet now. I’m going onstage for a minute to get in the mood. When I come back, I need to be in Verona, surrounded by Capulets and Montagues.”

She took a deep, shuddering breath and looked around the room. “Please?”

As every head in the cramped dressing room began nodding, she decided she would rewrite her dad’s famous mantra.
If you pretend you’re in control, people will believe you.

She walked to the door, hesitating as she reached Greg. “Art thou not Romeo,” she asked, “and a Montague?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike.”

“How’s your head?”

“I’m fine, Leg-guard.” He shrugged in embarrassment. “What about
your
head?”

“I’m fine,” she said. “Ten more minutes, then look out, Romeo.”

He grinned.

She didn’t smell any frangipani when she stopped in the middle of the darkened stage, merely diesel fumes drifting in from the generators outside. On the other side of the heavy stage curtain, she heard Rafe proclaim over the murmuring crowd that Esti was the bravest girl he’d ever met. Aurora’s voice merged with that of George, both of them sounding hopeful and upbeat.

Despite herself, Esti grinned.

She tilted her head to look up at the darkened ceiling, toward the high area that had once hidden a parabolic sound reflector. After a moment, she forced her eyes to move to the catwalk.

“Paul Wilmuth,” she whispered, “I finally got my chance at Juliet. In Alan’s name, I dedicate this performance to you.”

Alan deserved everything she could do for him without forcing him into the spotlight. She had seen a hint of grudging respect between him and Rafe. If she could fan that spark into friendship, Rafe would never again be bored. Ma Harris might truly be Alan’s friend now, and Lucia seemed ready for the challenge, not to mention Quintin, who didn’t fear anyone. Maybe even Aurora would come around eventually. Alan didn’t have to spend his life alone; Esti would make sure of it. Her father would be proud of her.

Now she knew what Alan had meant when he said the actor was stronger than the father—and the friend. The actor controlled every breath her dad took, every decision he made. Perhaps it was the core of his magnificence, but it was also his greatest weakness. His compassion was limited.

And compassion was the only way Esti would truly escape his shadow. Alan had forced her to see the beauty of the beast, the courage behind fear, the truth within lies. Those gifts would always guide her when she searched for the complex character in her script. Compassion, not control, would be the mantra of Esti Legard. Compassion and honesty.

With a smile, she focused her emotions into those of a naive girl. Slowly the chattering audience on the other side of the curtain became vendors hawking their wares on the streets of Verona. As she smiled at the delicious thought of Romeo in cornrows, the warmth inside her body began to grow. With a wondering smile, she headed back to the dressing room.

Juliet was ready to get onstage.

 

 

The End